Furnace Melt Operator – High-Pressure Aluminum Foundry (1st Shift)

Key People; Cedarburg (WI); On-site; USD 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus opportunities

401(k) match

Health and dental benefits

Bonus PTO

Job summary

Key People in Cedarburg, WI is seeking a Furnace Melt Operator for our high‑pressure aluminum die casting facility on 1st shift (6:00 AM – 2:15 PM). The role focuses on operating and maintaining industrial melting furnaces, charging ingots and scrap, skimming molten metal, and pulling samples to ensure exact alloy quality for production cells.

This direct‑hire position offers competitive hourly pay up to $31/hr, strong 401(k) matching, health and dental benefits, bonus opportunities and paths

Qualifications

• Demonstrated career stability with at least 2+ years tenure at each previous employer.
• Foundry or heavy manufacturing melt/furnace experience.
• Mechanical aptitude and basic math for weighing and counting materials.
• Reside within a 45-minute commute of Cedarburg, WI.
• High School Diploma or GED; US work authorization.

Responsibilities

• Operate, set up, load, and run industrial melting furnaces with ingots, sows, and scrap according to melt specs.
• Tap furnaces and skim impurities while maintaining temperature and cleanliness standards.
• Pull and label lab samples for chemical analysis and alloy verification.
• Perform basic furnace maintenance and troubleshoot mechanical issues.
• Operate forklifts and overhead hoists to move ingots, sows, and finished product.
• Record material quantities and daily production data with attendance and quality reporting.
• Follow OSHA, Lockout/Tagout, PPE rules and 5S organization.

Skills

Foundry melt operations

Mechanical aptitude

Material handling equipment

US work authorization

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

Forklift certification

Hoist certification

Job description

Furnace Melt Operator – High-Pressure Aluminum Foundry (1st Shift)

Up to $31.00/hr ($64,480/yr), Cedarburg, WI Area, 1st Shift (6:00 AM – 2:15 PM), Direct-Hire

• Pay & Incentives: Starting pay up to $31.00/hr ($64,480/yr baseline depending on experience) + pay-for-performance bonus opportunities, 401(k) with company match, full health/dental benefits, and opportunities to earn additional hours of bonus PTO per year for strong attendance.
• Work Pattern/Schedule: Dedicated 1st Shift schedule (6:00 AM – 2:15 PM, Monday – Friday) providing convenient daytime routine stability.
• Environment & Company Profile: Direct-hire seat with one of North America's largest independent die casting manufacturers; ISO-certified facility featuring exceptional stability (40% employee tenure over 10+ years) and premier tier-one OEM partnerships.
• Core Functional Scope: Operate and maintain industrial melting furnaces, charge raw materials (ingots, sows, internal scrap), skim molten metal, and pull lab samples to ensure exact alloy quality for high-pressure aluminum die-casting operations.
• Strict Requirements & Authorization: Requires strict job stability (minimum 2+ years per employer), foundry or heavy manufacturing melt/furnace experience, mobile equipment proficiency, US work authorization, and a local commute within 45 minutes of Cedarburg, WI.

A premier, North American market leader in high-precision die casting is seeking a reliable Furnace Melt Operator to support 1st shift foundry operations. Responsible for tapping, charging, and skimming melting furnaces, this seat is vital for providing continuous, high-quality molten metal to high-pressure aluminum die-casting cells.

Joining an ISO-certified facility where 40% of the team boasts over a decade of tenure, this direct-hire position offers excellent hourly compensation, long-term stability, strong 401(k) matching, and structured career development paths in an employee-centric workplace.

What You Will Be Doing (Daily Responsibilities)

• Operate & Charge Furnaces: Set up, load, and operate industrial melting furnaces with raw ingot, sows, and internal scrap metal according to strict melt specifications.
• Tap & Skim Molten Metal: Tap furnaces as directed by leadership and skim impurities from molten metal, taking care to maintain strict temperature and cleanliness standards.
• Pull Samples for Quality Analysis: Remove liquid metal samples, label them, and submit them to the metallurgy lab for chemical composition testing and alloy verification.
• Perform Basic Furnace Maintenance: Clean furnaces, burner wells, and metal transfer equipment; perform basic mechanical troubleshooting and preventative maintenance work orders.
• Operate Material Handling Equipment: Safely operate powered industrial forklift trucks and overhead electric hoists to transport ingots, sows, containers, and finished product.
• Track Production & Documentation: Count, weigh, and record material quantities moved on daily production logs while maintaining accurate attendance and quality reporting.
• Enforce Safety & 5S Standards: Follow all OSHA safety rules, strict Lockout/Tagout protocols, proper PPE requirements for hot metal environments, and 5S workplace organization.

What We Are Looking For (Requirements & Qualifications)

• Job Stability Required: Demonstrated career stability with a strict requirement of at least 2+ years of tenure at each previous employer.
• Foundry/Melt Operations Background: Prior experience operating industrial furnaces, melting aluminum/zinc/magnesium alloys, or working in a heavy industrial foundry/metalworking environment.
• Mechanical & Math Skills: Solid mechanical aptitude, basic math proficiency for weighing and counting materials, and the ability to operate material handling equipment.
• Commutable Radius: Must reside within a 45-minute maximum commute of the Cedarburg / Greater Milwaukee, WI area.
• Education & Authorization: High School Diploma or GED required; must be fully authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Preferred Technical Assets (Bonus Skills)

• Die Cast & Mold Theory: Working knowledge of high-pressure aluminum die-casting processes, vacuum systems, or molten metal thermal management.
• Quality Systems Knowledge: Experience operating within ISO/TS or IATF 16949 quality systems and applying 5S methodology on the shop floor.
• Forklift & Hoist Certification: Hands-on experience operating heavy-capacity forklifts, overhead bridge cranes, or specialized ladle hoists.